Cartridge for a sticker printing digital camera device

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for a printing device includes a casing defining a first container portion for housing a supply of stickers and a second container portion for storing an ink supply. The second container portion is divided into a number of distinct chambers for storing different colored inks and the first container is arranged to hold the stickers in a roll form. The cartridge can require some form of authentication [means recognizable] by the printing device with which it is to be used. The cartridge can be specifically configured for use with a sticker printing digital camera device.

[0001] This is a Continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/436,751filed on Nov. 9, 1999

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to cartridges for printing systems.The cartridge has been developed originally as a cartridge for a stickerprinting digital camera device that is preferably sized to be hand heldand will be described hereinafter with reference to this application.However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thecartridge can be used with many other kinds and types of printer deviceswhere it is desired to print ink onto adhesive print media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There is disclosed herein a cartridge for fitting to a printingcamera device having a view finder therein, said cartridge including:

[0004] a cartridge casing defining a first container portion ofgenerally annular configuration including an inner annular wall and aside wall for housing therebetween a supply of adhesive coated printmedia on a roll of backing material and a second container portion forstoring an ink supply, wherein the printing device uses ink from saidink supply to print on said print media and said inner annular wallsurrounds said view finder when said cartridge is fitted to the printingcamera device.

[0005] Preferably said second container portion is divided into aplurality of distinct chambers for storing different colored inks.

[0006] Preferably the ink storage container includes one or more inkoutlets that are pierced upon installation with the printing device.

[0007] Preferably the cartridge includes authentication meansrecognisable by the printing device.

[0008] Preferably the second container portion extends generallyradially outwardly from the first container portion.

[0009] Preferably the casing is adapted to snap fit with the printingdevice.

[0010] Preferably the casing includes an exit opening through which saidprint media passes and a further opening receiving a pick up roller fromthe printing device.

[0011] Preferably said print media and said ink supply are replenishedsimultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A preferred example of the inventive cartridge will now bedescribed, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a sticker printing camera;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the sticker printing cameraof FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a left hand side view of the sticker printing camera ofthe previous figures;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a right hand side view of the sticker printing camera ofthe previous figures;

[0017]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the sticker printingcamera device as shown in FIG. 1 including a first embodiment stickerprintroll and ink cartridge of the invention;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a rear view of the sticker printing camera from theprevious figures with the uppermost cover portions removed to illustratethe sticker storage area, ink supply, feeder and printer mechanism;

[0019]FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the printer mechanismshown in FIG. 6;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGS. 1-5;

[0021]FIG. 9 is a part sectioned top plan view showing detail of theprinter mechanism shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0022]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodimentsticker roll and ink cartridge of the invention;

[0023]FIG. 11 is a front view of the sticker roll and ink cartridgeshown with the base moulding removed; and

[0024]FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the inner components of theelectrical control circuitry.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The preferred application of the cartridge is to a stickerprinting camera able to print stickers on demand on a replenishableprintroll. The “stickercam” 1 as illustrated in the accompanying figureshas a multi-part housing defined by an external front cover moulding 2,an internal sub-structure and rear molding 3, a sticker and inkcartridge molding 4 and an external rear cover 5.

[0026] The housing in the illustrated preferred embodiment is generallytear drop shaped in elevation, the generally circular portion 6 beingadapted to store stickers in a printroll form and the remaining portionhousing the ink supply 7, printhead arrangement 8 and sticker feedmechanism 9.

[0027] The view finder 10 is also disposed at or near the centre of thecircular housing portion 6 and extends fully through the casing from thefront cover 2 to an optional eye piece 11 on the rear. The casingincludes an inner annular wall 50 about which the sticker roll 18 isreceived. The annular wall 50 surrounds the view finder 10. Providedimmediately below the view finder 10 at the front of the casing is acamera lens 12 which is operatively associated with the suitable imagesensing and processing means such as the CCD 13 shown in FIG. 12.Further, a “take” button 14 is provided at the top of the casingtogether with a “print” button 15 for taking and printing imagesrespectively.

[0028] The preferred “stickercam” as illustrated also includes an“effects dial” 16 which is rotatable so as to implement a series ofeffects such as normal, black and white, sepia, soft blending, etc. Itcan also be used for the addition of graphical clip arts such as lovehearts, flowers, surprise effects etc. On the dial, a series of iconpictures may be provided on which is printed an indicator of the effect.The effect placed at the indicator marker 17 is the one then applied bythe camera. The effect dial can be implemented by placing a series ofconductive segments on the reverse side of the wheel with the conductivesegments forming a binary pattern indicative of the type of effect to bedisplayed. The segments can complete a circuit monitorable by thestickercam so as to provide for the effect.

[0029] The stickers are provided in the form of a sticker roll 18 whichis preferably housed in a cartridge assembly 19 according to the presentinvention which is releasably secured to the external casing. This firstpreferred form of the cartridge is of a similar shape and structure tothe external housing of the camera device and comprises a top molding 20which defines a first generally annular sticker roll containing portion21 and a second generally triangular sectioned ink storage portion 22.The ink storage portion is preferably divided into a plurality ofdistinct chambers 23 so as to provide for both color and black and whiteprinting. Two slots are also provided in the side wall of the cartridgetop molding, the first being a sticker exit slot 24 and the second beinga pick up roller slot 25 which forms part of the sticker feed mechanism27 that is described in more detail below. The cartridge 19 alsoincludes a base molding 28 which seals both the sticker roll cavity andthe ink chambers. Preferably, ink outlet perforations 29 are provided inthe base molding that are covered by a sealing film that is piercedduring installation so as to be in fluid communication with a printermechanism 30. Desirably, the cartridge is a sealed unit such that thestickers and ink supply are to be replenished simultaneously.Conveniently, the cartridge may be snap fitted with the external housingby means of pressure snap mounts 31 shown in the drawings.

[0030] The sticker feed mechanism 27 and printer mechanism 30 are bestillustrated in FIGS. 7, 9 and 12. The sticker feed mechanism 27 includesa pick up roller 32 which spools the stickers forward once the cartridgehas been inserted in the outer housing. Adjacent the pick up roller areseveral pairs of drive rollers or nip rollers 33 which are operated viaan appropriate gear chain 34 by the motor 35. A serrated cutter 36 mayalso be provided as part of the feed sub-assembly and arranged so as tobe adjacent the printed sticker outlet 37 that is formed as part of thehousing front molding 2. Alternatively, a guillotine type arrangementcould be provided.

[0031] The printer mechanism 30 is best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 andcomprises a page width printhead chip 40 with an ink distribution unit41. Forming part of the ink distribution unit is an ink supplyconnection manifold 42 which has a plurality of ink inlet projections 43which engage the ink outlet perforations 29 on the sticker roll and inkcartridge 19. Preferably, the printer mechanism and sticker feedmechanism are a single unit and are detachable for replacement orrepair.

[0032] Turning now to FIG. 12 (and FIG. 5), there is shown a schematicarrangement of a part of the electrical circuitry for the control andoperation of the stickercam device. As can be seen, a simple flexiblePCB harness can be used to interconnect the take and print buttons 14and 15 to the CCD 13 and the printhead assembly 30. Also provided aspart of the circuit are contacts 45 for the power supply which ispreferably in the form of a three volt battery 46. Further, thedetachable printhead and/or sticker and ink supply cartridge preferablyinclude an authentication mechanism such as that outlined in applicant'searlier PCT application number PCT/AU98/00544 entitled “A camera with aninternal printing system”. The authentication chip contact 47 is shownin FIG. 12.

[0033] In use, the “stickercam” is oriented toward the target subjectand the take button 14 is then operated to capture the image. Theeffects dial 16 can then be rotated and an effect selected. When theprint button 15 is then operated the sticker feed mechanism 27 deliversthe next sticker or portion of sticker media to the printhead assembly30 for printing of the effect processed image thereon.

[0034] Numerous variations are possible within the overall inventiveconcept of the “stickercam”. For example, the printhead unit can be asuitable adaptation of that outlined in the Australian provisionalpatent application entitled “Image Creation Method and Apparatus (ART79)” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant, the contentsof which are hereby incorporated by cross reference. Alternatively, thepreferred embodiment can be implemented as a rearrangement of the systemdisclosed in PCT Patent Application PCT/AU98/00549 (WO 99/04551)entitled “A Replenishable One Time Use Camera System” also filed by thepresent applicant. Advantageously, the image sensor can be of a reducedsize to that described in the above referenced PCT application due tothe small size of the stickers.

[0035] Similarly, the electronics of the stickercam can be based arounda CMOS images sensor 19 which also includes processing circuitry forprocessing an image and forwarding it to the printhead 12 for printing.The operation of the internal control electronics can be substantiallyas set out in the aforementioned PCT specification WO 99/04551.

[0036] Although the invention has been described with reference to onespecific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat the inventive cartridge can be embodied in many other forms andadapted for use with printers and printer applications of all kinds andtypes.

1. A cartridge for fitting to a printing camera device having a view finder therein, said cartridge including: a cartridge casing defining a first container portion of generally annular configuration including an inner annular wall and a side wall for housing therebetween a supply of adhesive coated print media on a roll of backing material and a second container portion for storing an ink supply, wherein the printing device uses ink from said ink supply to print on said print media and said inner annular wall surrounds said view finder when said cartridge is fitted to the printing camera device.
 2. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said second container portion is divided into a plurality of distinct chambers for storing different colored inks.
 3. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the ink storage container includes one or more ink outlets that are pierced upon installation with the printing device.
 4. A cartridge according to claim 1 including authentication means recognisable by the printing device.
 5. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the second container portion extends generally radially outwardly from the first container portion.
 6. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the casing is adapted to snap fit with the printing device.
 7. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the casing includes an exit opening through which said print media passes and a further opening receiving a pick up roller from the printing device.
 8. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said print media and said ink supply are replenished simultaneously. 